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I'm baffled here, and thought I'd throw this out for a little brainstorming. It is a low hour, very clean, well maintained and pampered 2004 SXR 800. Stock with the exception of a FP wet pipe, Group K lightened flywheel, and Group K mild head mill.
About a month ago, I took my last ride. It was my first trip with this ski into the surf. Two hours into the ride, the ski instantly feels like it dropped a cylinder. I start heading for the beach and like a switch, it's comes back to life... for two more minutes, then back to crippled.
It took me nearly 25 minutes to limp it back into the inlet. During this time, it would start and idle perfectly. It never got hot. It basically felt like it was hitting the rev limiter about 400 RPM above idle. It would not rev out at all. At no time did it have an excessive amount of water in the hull.
Got it back to the rental house, and flushed it out. Still wouldn't rev out.
The next day, I tried to start it, and it wouldn't start. It would fire however, only as long as I help the start botton in. I put new plugs in, and checked that they were making fire. They were. I went through my intake. The reeds were fine. I switched intakes with a friend. Nothing. Fuel is flowing fine. Checked the compression. 165 per hole.
For whatever reason, I unplugged the Factory Pipe jumper to see what would happen. With it removed (the ignition retarded 6 degrees), the boat acted just the same as it did the day before. It would now start, and idle well, just wouldn't rev out. Put the jumper back in, and nothing. No starting at all.
At this point, I'm convinced it's a timing issue, since I know I'm getting spark, air, and fuel, but no action, unless I retard the timing via the jumper.
In a pinch, I get John @ Blowsion, and Steve @ JSU on the phone. (right in the middle of their Havasu return, thanks guys). After brain picking, I figure the flywheel ket has sheered and got the timing out of whack.
Pulled the flywheel off. Wheel, key, crank, are all perfect.
Now I'm down to the only thing I can think of that would alter timing. The CDI. (it is the stocker). After I told Steve about it actually firing only as long as the start button was in, it sparked something in his brain, and he too thought it must be the CDI. (he told me the theory, but he seemed sharp, and it was a bit over my recreational wrencher head)
Fast forward one month, to now...
I pull my box apart. Everything is dry and clean. Rip another CDI off a friends ski to swap and varify that's the problem. Before I take mine off, I give it one last try to varify it's still crippled.
The piece of crap starts and revs out fine!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhh...
I would rather have known the CDI was screwed, and spent $500 to know it was fixed. As is, I have no faith in my ski, and our next ride will more than likely be a long trip back to the surf in the spring.
Throw out some ideas please. I have run out of my own.
Thanks, Greg
About a month ago, I took my last ride. It was my first trip with this ski into the surf. Two hours into the ride, the ski instantly feels like it dropped a cylinder. I start heading for the beach and like a switch, it's comes back to life... for two more minutes, then back to crippled.
It took me nearly 25 minutes to limp it back into the inlet. During this time, it would start and idle perfectly. It never got hot. It basically felt like it was hitting the rev limiter about 400 RPM above idle. It would not rev out at all. At no time did it have an excessive amount of water in the hull.
Got it back to the rental house, and flushed it out. Still wouldn't rev out.
The next day, I tried to start it, and it wouldn't start. It would fire however, only as long as I help the start botton in. I put new plugs in, and checked that they were making fire. They were. I went through my intake. The reeds were fine. I switched intakes with a friend. Nothing. Fuel is flowing fine. Checked the compression. 165 per hole.
For whatever reason, I unplugged the Factory Pipe jumper to see what would happen. With it removed (the ignition retarded 6 degrees), the boat acted just the same as it did the day before. It would now start, and idle well, just wouldn't rev out. Put the jumper back in, and nothing. No starting at all.
At this point, I'm convinced it's a timing issue, since I know I'm getting spark, air, and fuel, but no action, unless I retard the timing via the jumper.
In a pinch, I get John @ Blowsion, and Steve @ JSU on the phone. (right in the middle of their Havasu return, thanks guys). After brain picking, I figure the flywheel ket has sheered and got the timing out of whack.
Pulled the flywheel off. Wheel, key, crank, are all perfect.
Now I'm down to the only thing I can think of that would alter timing. The CDI. (it is the stocker). After I told Steve about it actually firing only as long as the start button was in, it sparked something in his brain, and he too thought it must be the CDI. (he told me the theory, but he seemed sharp, and it was a bit over my recreational wrencher head)
Fast forward one month, to now...
I pull my box apart. Everything is dry and clean. Rip another CDI off a friends ski to swap and varify that's the problem. Before I take mine off, I give it one last try to varify it's still crippled.
The piece of crap starts and revs out fine!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhh...
I would rather have known the CDI was screwed, and spent $500 to know it was fixed. As is, I have no faith in my ski, and our next ride will more than likely be a long trip back to the surf in the spring.
Throw out some ideas please. I have run out of my own.
Thanks, Greg
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